How to Find Purpose in This Season of Life
Are You Looking for Inspiration?
Have you felt a little lost lately? The effects of the pandemic reach into every aspect of our lives, and it may have you questioning what you previously felt certain about.
Like the Israelites wandering in the desert, we all enter a dry season. Confusion, fear, and despair can make the landscape of your life look a little barren. There may be many mirages tempting you to temporarily forget about your circumstances, but they have no lasting hope.
If I may, I’d like to encourage you to look up.
If you have eyes to see it, you can find inspiration, motivation, and everything you need to move forward with energy and purpose. It’s all around you, you just have to collect it.
Manna
When Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, they got hungry. So, God provided. Every morning the ground around their camp was covered in what they called manna. This small, seed-like substance rained down from heaven to nourish the worn wanderers. It was their literal daily bread.
There was only one condition to the provision: the Israelites weren’t able to keep it more than a day. Every morning it was there, they just had to gather it. God was building their trust in Him to be their Provider.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day…” (Exodus 16:4 NLT)
Of course, He was true to His promise. Throughout their 40 years in the wilderness, before entering the promised land, the Israelites ate manna. God did what He said He would do.
I know that when I’m struggling, this is what I need to lean into.
God will do what He says He’s going to do.
In These Strange Times, You Can Still Find Your Way
When things get difficult it’s easy to feel lost and wonder where God is. We may wonder if we still have a purpose to fulfill.
In those desert moments, God is providing. We just have to look for His blessings.
The truth is, we are all in a weird season dealing with new stresses and an ever-changing landscape of culture. Much of what we have relied upon is being shaken. We might feel like we can’t stand for those who rely on us.
This is the perfect moment to look to God and what He is providing. When we do, like Moses and the children of Israel, we will find His provision all around us, every morning.
Here’s what helps me:
- I look for what God is providing. Right now. Every day. All too often we become fixated on what we don’t have instead of what is around us. What blessings are you finding around you today?
- I write down what God has already provided. A few years ago I started a note in my phone called “Manna”. And every time something blessed me, I wrote it down.
- I go back. I read and remind myself of God’s faithful provisions.
Developing Your Muscle Memory for the Next Time
Reading my “manna” notes became part of my daily routine. Every morning I’d reflect on what God had already provided. These notes reminded me of the small moments of God’s blessings.
All of a sudden, I began to see opportunities where I had seen difficulty before. I began to be inspired instead of discouraged. Practicing gratitude began to redefine who I was and who I wanted to be. It gave me a vision for a better day today.
Man, it was a game-changer.
The “manna” note eventually became a “confession” note. I no longer looked at the landscape around me for hope and assurance. Instead, I made declarations of faith, based on what I knew of God and what He said about me in His Word.
Nothing fires me up more than reading and confessing who God made me to be!
When you are picking up what God is laying down, it changes your thought life, your energy, and your attitude. It leads to more opportunities and more blessings. We will talk more about this in the future. But for today, I challenge you to start by collecting His blessings.
I’d love to hear and share in all He is doing and preparing for your life.